Vending machine



May 11 1926. 1,584,395

R. J. NICHOLS VENDING MACHINE File Feb. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L 1 0 f g I g F16. 1. 7 FIG. Z.

Witness: INVE NTORI y a? JkMz'choZs @Wz zap. QMKW R ATTORNEY.

May 11 ,1926. 1,584,395

R. J. NICHOLS VENDING MACHINE Filed Fe 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H W 2 112 Z I Tl G. 6.

INVENTOR. W2 2W6 86 jfickard J flQUwZJ,

BY wwwmw. m

ATTORNEY R. J. NICHOLS VENDING May 11 1926.

MACHINE Filed Feb, 20, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 III M.

FIG?

INVENTOR Richard J Michal;

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 11, 1926.

UNITED STATES RICHARD J. NICHOLS, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS. V

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed February 20, 1922. Serial No. 537,816.

My invention relates to vending machines of the character adapted to dispense chew ing gum, candy and other commodities, and one feature of the invention resides in new and useful motor driven dispensing mechanism whereby the articles are automatically delivered to the purchasers. Y

Another feature resides in electrical means for controlling the motor circuit, such electrical means being'primarily controlled by proper coins inserted in the coin slot of the machine by purchasers, resulting in energi-.

zation of the motor circuit and automatic delivery of the articles to the purchasers without effort on their part other than the insertion of proper coins.

Other features will hereinafter appear, and in orderthat the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig.- 3 is an enlarged broken vertical section showing the interior mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail vertical section of the coin chute and adj acentparts, on line IVIV of Fig. 5.

F Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line VV of ig. 4. i

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of a portion of the dispensing mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electric circuits emlployed in carrying out the invention.

- eferring now in detail to the different parts, 2 designates a suitable case provided at its upper forward portion with a compartment 4, (Fig. 3), for holding the articles or packages, A, to be vended. Access is had to the compartment 4 to place articles therein through a door 6 at the front of said compartment. The articles are delivered one by one through anopening 8 at the lower front portion of the compartment 4 and fall upon a tray 10 provided with a stop 12.

14 designates a coin chute placed within the forward portion of the case 2 and just below the tray 10, which has a slot 16 communicating with the upper end of said coin chute 14. The coin chute 14 consists of two blocks of insulating material 18 and 20, (Figs. 4 and 5), spaced apart at their upper portion by two oppositely-disposed electric conductors 22 and 24 and at their lower portions by a conductor 26 and a spacing element 28. The electric conductor 24 is pro'- a certain size coin such as B. The insulation has a slot 30 through'which bogus coins are extracted by an electromagnet -32 to prevent such bogus coins from effecting the delivery of a package. The spacing element 28 is shorter than the conductor 26 to admit a coin check 34, preferably, in the form of a bell-crank fulcrumed at 36 and normally held inposition to intercept a coin as disclosed by full lines, Fig. 4, through the in strumentality of a counterweight 38, the downward movement of which is limited by a stop v40 placed inthe path of the leverarm 42 from which said counterweight 38 is suspended- The lever arm 42 also constitutes the armature of an electroinagnet 44, which on becoming energized, attracts the arm 42 and causes the coin check 34'to-release the intercepted coin.

The package delivery or dispensing mechanism (Figs. 3 and 6), is enclosed within the case 2 and includes a rack 46, the forward end of which extends into a slot 48 in the lower portion of the rear wall of the compartment 4 and terminates adjacent to therear endof the lowermost package A. Said rack 46 is reciprocably mounted between guide rollers 50 and small idle gears 52journaled between plates 54 secured to the rear wall of the compartment 4 and further secured by a brace55 connected to said plates 54 and the rear wall of said compartment 4. The rear end of the rack 46 is provided with an electric contact 47 adapted, each time said rack'46 advances, to engage an plates 54. a

The rack 46 is' normally held in its retracted pdsition with its stop 56 against the forward ends of the plates 54 by means of a weight 58 suspended from a cable 60 running over guide sheaves 62 and attached to the vided-with a spring contact 2? spaced from the conductor 22 a proper distance to admit.

electric contact 49 at the rear endof the rear end of said rack 46. The weight 58 is prevented from swinging about when moving up or down by a tubular guide 61 in which said weight operates.

The rack 46 is advanced by a gear wheel 64'fixed upon a shaft 66 journaled in the plates 54 and carrying a fixedly-mounted sprocket wheel 68. The sprocket wheel 68 is geared by an endless sprocket chain 70 to another sprocket wheel 7 2 fixed upon the shaft of an electric motor 74 supported by a bracket 76 78 "designates a circuit breaker fulcrumed at 80 and provided atone end with an armature 82 and at its opposite end with a weight 84 which normally holds the last-mentioned end against a stop 86 adjustably mounted upon a threaded rod 88 provided with another adjustable stop 90 to limit the upward movement of the weighted end of said circuit breaker 78. The circuit breaker 78 is provided between its fulcrum 80 and its ar mature with an ad uStable contact 92, equipped with a binding post .94 and adapted to engage a mercury contact 96 in a cup 98 and in circuit with a binding post 100. The armature 82 of the circuit breaker is disposed adjacent to an electromagnet 102, the purpose of which will hereinarter appear.

Referring now to the diagram, Fig. 7, for

the electric circuits employed in carrying out the invention, it will be seen that the motor 74 is in a normally open circuit consisting of mains 106 and 108, the circuit breaker 78, and the contacts 92 and 96. The contacts 47 and 49 are, also, in a normally open circuit including a suitable source of energy, such for instance as abattery 112, circuit wires 114 and 116, and the electromagnet 44. The electromagnet 102 is in a normally open circuit including the battery 112, the circuit wire 114, a circuit wire 118, a circuit Wire 120, the'conductor 26, the coin check 34, a wire 122 and the wire 116. The electromagnet 32 is in a normally open circuit including the battery 112, circuit wire 114, circuit wire 124, conductors 22 and 24, wire 122,'and the wire 116.

The operation is substantially as follows: Assuming that a bogus coin of proper size but susceptible to magnetism is inserted in the coin chute 14, it, on contacting the conductor 22 and the spring contact 29, closes the circuit including the electroinagnet 32, which becomes energized and ejects the coin from said coin chute 14 through the slot 30. A package is not delivered in the abovementioned instances.

If a genuine coin of proper size is inserted in the coin chute 14, it, being unsusceptible to magnetism is not afiected by the attraction of the electromagnet 32 and descends until stopped by the coin check 34 and the conductor 26, Fig. 4. The coin then acts as a circuit closer or switch in closing the circuit including the electromagnet 102, which is thereby energized and closes the motor circuit by closing the circuit breaker. 78. The motor 74' then, through the instrumentality of the intervening gearing, advances the rack 46 which discharges the lowermost package A throughthe delivery openin 8. As the rack 46 reaches the end of its orward movement the contact 47 engages the :ontact 49, thereby closing the circuit includingthe electromagnet44 which is thus energized and releases the coinby moving.

the coin check 34 out of the path thereof. The instant that the coin passes from between the conductor 26 and the coin check 34, the circuits become deenergized, the com check 34 moving to its full line position, Fig. 4, under the influence of the counterweight 38, and the circuit breaker 78 opening under the influence of the weight 84 and thus interrupting the motor circuit. The weight 58, through its connection with the rack 46 restores the same to normal position. The foregoing operations are re peated each time. a proper coin is'inserted.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that I have produced a vending machine embodying the advantages above pointed out, and while I have shown and described the preferred construction, combination and arrangement of parts, I reserve the right to make such changes as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I-claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vending machine, dispensing mechanism, an electric motor for advancing said dispensing mechanism, a normally open motor circuit, a coin-controlled circuit for closing said motor circuit, a normally open third circuit which on being closed interrupts said coin-controlled circuit and thereby causes interruption of the motor circuit, a fixed contact connected to said third circuit, and a contact controlled by the dispensing mechanism for engaging said fixed contact 'and thereby closing said third circuit.

2. In a vending machine, dispensing mechanism, an electric motor for advancing said dispensing mechanism, a normally open motor circuit, a second circuit for closing said motor circuit and retaining the same in closed position throughout the advance of said dispensing mechanism, means controlled by the advancing dispensing mechanism for interrupting said second circuit and thereby causing interruption of the motor circuit, and means for restoring the dispensing mechanism to initial position on interruption of the motor circuit.

3. In a vending machine, dispensing mechanism, an electric motor for advancing said dispensing mechanism, a circuit for en-' ergizing said electric motor, a circuitbreaker for normally holding said motor circuit open, magnetic means for closing said circuit-breaker, a coin-controlled circuit for energizing said magnetic means, and a circuit which is closed by the advancing dispensing mechanism for interrupting said coin-controlled circuit and thereby causing interruption of the motor circuit.

4. In a vending machine, dispensing mechanism, an electric. motor for advancing said dispensing mechanism, a circuit for energizing said electric motor, a circuitbreaker Etor normally holding said motor circuit open, magnetic means for closin said circuit-breaker, a coin-controlled circuit for energizing said magnetic means, a circuit which is closed by the advancing dispensing mechanism for interrupting said coin-controlled circuit and thereby causing interruption of the motor circuit, and means forrestoring the dispensing mechanism to initial position on interruption or the motor circuit.

5. In a vending machine dispensing mechanism, an electric motor or advancing said dispensing mechanism, a circuit for ener izing said electric motor, a circuitbreal ier for normally holding said motor. circuit open, magnetic means forclosing said circuit-breaker, a coin-controlled circuit for energizing said. ma etic means, and electrical means contro led by the advancing said dispensing mechanism, a circuit for' ener izing said electric motor, a circuitbrea er for normally holding said motor circuit open, magnetic means for closing said circuit-breaker, a coin-controlled circuit for energizing said magnetic means, magnetic means for o ening said coin-controlled circuit, and a circuit controlled by the advanc ing dispensing mechanism for energizing the last-mentioned magnetic means and thereby causing interruption of the coin-controlled and motor circuits as an article is delivered.

In testimony whereof I aflix m si nature.

' RICHARD J N C OLS. 

